The first stop on my adventures usually includes food, and this trip was no exception. The Matador Mexican Food Restaurant, http://www.matador2go.com, proved to be a logical place because it was 1) close to a Red Line bus stop downtown; 2) it's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; and 3) it's a locally owned eatery in a land dominated by Starbucks and Quiznos. Decorated with matador murals, the place is enormous, with banquet seating is for 300 or so. We managed to get a booth by the window and decided that breakfast was the logical choice (after all, it was only 10 in the morning). Service was a little slow but very friendly. I decided on the machaca con huevos: seasoned, shredded beef cooked with scrambled eggs, served with rice and refried beans. Other diners went for the huevos rancheros. Both dishes came with a choice of corn or flour tortillas and were in the $6.50 to $7.50 range. An excellent carbohydrate boost to get through the next few hours.
When it comes to Mexican food (barbeque also falls into this category), locals will either love or hate a place. Everyone has their own idea of what Mexican food should be or shouldn’t be and they have their own favorite. My conclusion: don’t go to the Matador expecting a culinary experience that will change your life. The service is friendly, the prices are reasonable, and the food is pretty good. What more can you ask for?